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A former employee of the North Central District Health Department has filed a lawsuit against the department, claiming she was fired unjustly.

Angela Roberts of Henry County, a nurse with the health department, claims in her lawsuit, filed Dec. 21 in Shelby Circuit Court, that she was fired because health department officials found out she had notified the Labor Cabinet when the health department refused to pay her for overtime hours she had worked.

With the vote now in the past, Henry County and New Castle city officials now have the task of compiling ordinances to regulate the sale of by-the-drink liquor sales.

Voters supported the “moist” issue by a 2-1 margin in both a countywide referendum and a New Castle referendum held Dec. 13. By-the-drink liquor sales will only be available when served with a meal in restaurants with seating for 50 or more customers.

“Dan and his staff... have made a bad situation as good as it could be,” Magistrate Roger Hartlage told the Fiscal Court on Dec. 20. “The working ethic these guys put out is second to none. They did not stop, and will not stop, until it’s done. I commend you for that.”

Nobody knew just how big a task faced them at 25 Allyson Lane.

But on Monday, Dec. 12, Henry County Animal Control Officer Dan Flinkfelt marshaled a few regular volunteers to assist in what one said was a big raid.

The 240 animals confiscated Dec. 12 from a puppy mill/hoarding situation on Allyson Lane in rural Campbellsburg have all found refuge with foster homes, veterinarians and animal rescue groups in the region, according to Henry County Animal Control Officer Dan Flinkfelt.

So far, the majority of the animals have survived. Two cats that were removed from the property died in transit; one was euthanized after it tested positive for feline leukemia, a deadly, incurable and highly contagious disease.

Henry and Trimble County officials working together to build a new animal shelter were unpleasantly surprised Thursday, Dec. 15, when a second round of bids for the project came in at least $100,000 higher than the amount the counties have budgeted.

The counties hope to build the 2,100-square-foot, cement block structure for $250,000 on land donated to Trimble County by Republic Services, owners of the Valley View Landfill.

While the Henry County Animal Shelter has been dealing with finding rescues and foster homes for the 240 animals confiscated from an alleged puppy mill in Campbellsburg last week, Animal Control Officer Dan Flinkfelt wants to remind area residents that he and his staff are still handling the routine tasks of running the facility.

“We’re still spaying and neutering, and still doing everything we need to do” to operate the shelter, as well as going out on calls, as well as dealing with the overwhelming number of animals that were confiscated.

Unemployment rates fell in 99 Kentucky counties between October 2010 and October 2011, while 20 county rates increased and one county remained the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.4 percent.

Illinois topped the list of states with the most comprehensive and strongest animal abuse laws in the country, with Maine, Michigan, Oregon and California rounding out the top five.

According to the 2011 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings, compiled by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Illinois laws do more than the laws in any other state. Kentucky is ranked 50th, sharing the “Worst Five” ranking with South Dakota, Iowa, Idaho and North Dakota.